General purpose cleaners

ABSTRACT

Multipurpose cleaners are comprised of an alkoxylated carboxylic acid ester corresponding to the formula (I):                    
     wherein R 1 CO is an aliphatic acyl group, AlkO is CH 2 CH 2 O, CHCH 3 CH 2 O, CH 2 CHCH 3 O, or a combination thereof, n is a number from 1 to 20 and R 2  is an aliphatic alkyl group, and a betaine, an amine oxide or a combination thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to multipurpose cleaners containingalkoxylated carboxylic acid esters, more particularly those which havebeen obtained by reaction of carboxylic acid esters and alkylene oxidesin the presence of calcined hydrotalcites, and—asco-surfactants—betaines and/or amine oxides. The present invention alsorelates to the use of a surfactant mixture containing alkoxlatedcarboxylic acid esters and betaines and/or amine oxides for theproduction of the multipurpose cleaners.

Compositions for cleaning hard non-textile surfaces—except tableware—inthe home and in the institutional sector are known as multipurposecleaners (MPCs). Low-foaming MPCs are those which, when used manually,generate a small volume of foam which collapses significantly in amatter of minutes. Products of this type are well-known and areestablished on then market. They are essentially aqueous surfactantsolutions of various kinds with or without added builders, hydrotropesor solvents. Although consumers like the cleaning solution to foam to acertain extent at the, beginning of the particular cleaning task asproof of effectiveness, they also want the foam to collapse quickly sothat cleaned surfaces do not have to be re-wiped. To this end,compositions of the type mentioned are normally formulated withlow-foaming nonionic surfactants, for example mixed ethers or alcoholalkoxylates, more particularly oxoalcohol ethoxylates.

DE-A-43 26 112 describes low-foaming multipurpose cleaners which,besides the high-foaming alkyl polyglycosides, also contain fatty acidalkyl ester alkoxylates. Multipurpose cleaners such as these combinehigh cleaning performance with very low foaming.

Unfortunately, known compositions often lack dermatologicalcompatibility so that, despite a large number of commercially availableproducts, there is a constant need among manufacturers and customersalike for milder preparations which at least reach the standard of knownproducts in regard to foaming and cleaning behavior. Accordingly, theproblem addressed by the present invention was to meet theserequirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to multipurpose cleaners containing

(a) alkoxylated carboxylic acid esters corresponding to formula (I):

in which R¹CO is an aliphatic acyl group, AlkO stands for CH₂CH₂O,CHCH₃CH₂O and/or CH₂CHCH₃O, n is a number of 1 to 20 and R² is analiphatic alkyl group, and

(b) betaines and/or amine oxides.

It has surprisingly been found that the compositions according to theinvention are flowable and low-foaming, even in highly concentratedform, can readily be diluted with water without passing through a gelphase and—largely irrespective of their concentration—do not irritatethe skin land still show excellent cleaning performance, above allexcellent fat dissolving power.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Alkoxylated Carboxylic Acid Esters

Alkoxylated carboxylic acid esters, which are a compulsory constituentof the MPCs according to the invention, are known from the prior art.They may be obtained, for example, by esterification of alkoxylatedcarboxylic acids with alcohols. For the purposes of the presentinvention, however, the compounds are produced by reaction of carboxylicacid esters with alkylene oxides using catalysts, more especiallycalcined hydrotalcite in accordance with DE-A-39 14 131, which givecompounds with a narrow homolog distribution. Alkoxylated carboxylicacid esters of general formula (I), in which R¹CO is an aliphatic acylgroup containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms, AlkO stands for a CH₂CH₂O—,CHCH₃CH₂O— and/or CH₂—CHCH₃O group, n has an average value of 3 to 20and R² is an aliphatic alkyl group containing 1 to 22 carbon atoms, arepreferred for the purposes of the present invention.

Preferred acyl groups are derived from carboxylic acids containing 6 to22 carbon atoms of natural or synthetic origin, more especially fromlinear, saturated and/or unsaturated fatty acids, including thetechnical mixtures thereof obtainable by lipolysis from animal and/orvegetable fats and oils, for example from coconut oil, palm kernel oil,palm oil, soya oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, cottonseed oil, fishoil, bovine tallow and lard. Examples of such carboxylic acids arecaproic acid, caprylic acid, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, capric acid, lauricacid, isotridecanoic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleicacid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid,petroselic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, elaeostearic acid,arachic acid, gadoleic acid, behenic acid and/or erucic acid. Moreparticularly, R¹CO is a linear, even-numbered acyl group containing 8 to18 carbon atoms.

Preferred alkyl groups are derived from primary, aliphatic monohydricalcohols containing 1 to 22 carbon atoms which may be saturated and/orunsaturated. Examples of suitable monoalcohols are methanol, ethanol,propanol, butanol, pentanol and the hydrogenation products of theabove-mentioned carboxylic acids containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Moreparticularly, R² is a methyl group.

AlkO preferably stands for a CH₂CH₂O group.

Alkoxylated carboxylic acid esters of formula (I), in which R¹CO is alinear, even-numbered acyl group containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms, AlkOstands for a CH₂CH₂O group, n has an average value of 5 to 15 and R² isa methyl group, are particularly suitable. Examples of such compoundsare carboxylic acid acid methyl esters alkoxylated with, on average, 5,7, 9, 10 or 11 moles of ethylene oxide.

If particularly low-viscosity multipurpose cleaners are required, it isadvisable to use alkoxylated carboxylic acid esters derived fromshort-chain carboxylic acids, more particularly those containing 8 to 10carbon atoms. By contrast, high cleaning performance is obtained fromalkoxylated carboxylic acid esters derived from relatively long-chaincarboxylic acids, more particularly those containing 12 to 18 carbonatoms.

Component b) is compulsorily present in the multipurpose cleanersaccording to the invention. In one embodiment, betaines are present ascomponent b).

Betaines

Betaines are known surfactants which are mainly produced bycarboxyalkylation, preferably carboxymethylation, of aminic compounds.The starting materials are preferably condensed with halocarboxylicacids or salts thereof, more particularly with sodium chloroacetate, 1mole of salt being formed per mole of betaine. The addition ofunsaturated carboxylic acids, for example acrylic acid, is alsopossible. Information on the nomenclature and, in particular, on thedifference between betaines and “true” amphoteric surfactants can befound in the article by U. Ploog. in Seifen-Öle-Fette-Wachse, 198, 373(1982). Other overviews on this subject have been published, forexample, by A. O'Lennick et al. in HAPPI, November 70 (1986), by S.Holzman et al. in Tens. Surf. Det. 23, 309 (1986), by R. Bilbo et al. inSoap Cosm. Chem. Spec. Apr. 46 (1990) and by P. Ellis et al. in EuroCosm. 1, 14 (1994).

In one embodiment, the betaines present are carboxyalkylation productsof secondary and, in particular, tertiary amines which correspond toformula (II):

in which R³ represents alkyl and/or alkenyl groups containing 6 to 22carbon atoms, R⁴ represents hydrogen or alkyl groups containing 1 to 4carbon atoms, R⁵ represents alkyl groups containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms,m is a number of 1 to 6 and X is an alkali metal and/or alkaline earthmetal or ammonium ion. Typical examples are the carboxymethylationproducts of hexyl methyl amine, hexyl dimethyl amine, octyl dimethylamine, decyl dimethyl amine, dodecyl methyl amine, dodecyl dimethylamine, dodecyl ethyl methyl amine, C_(12/14) cocoalkyl dimethyl amine,myristyl dimethyl amine, cetyl dimethyl amine, stearyl dimethyl amine,stearyl ethyl methyl amine, oleyl dimethyl amine, C_(16/18) tallow alkyldimethyl amine and technical mixtures thereof.

In another embodiment, suitable betaines are also carboxyalkylationproducts of amidoamines corresponding to formula (III):

in which R⁶CO is an aliphatic acyl group containing 6 to 22 carbon atomsand 0 or 1 to 3 double bonds, o is a number of 1 to 3 and R⁴, R⁵, m andX are as defined above for formula (II). Typical examples are reactionproducts of fatty acids containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms, namely caproicacid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmiticacid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid,elaidic acid, petroselic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid,elaeostearic acid, arachic acid, gadoleic acid, behenic acid and erucicacid and technical mixtures thereof, with N,N-dimethyl aminoethyl amine,N,N-dimethyl aminopropyl amine, N,N-diethyl aminoethyl amine, andN,N-diethyl aminopropyl amine which are condensed with sodiumchloroacetate. A condensation product of C_(8/18) cocofattyacid-N,N-dimethyl aminopropyl amide with sodium chloroacetate ispreferably used.

Other suitable starting materials for the betaines to be used inaccordance with the invention are imidazolines corresponding to formula(IV):

in which R⁷ is an alkyl group containing 5 to 21 carbon atoms, R⁸ is ahydroxyl group, an OCOR⁷ or NHCOR⁷ group and p is 2 or 3. Theseimidazolines are also known substances which may be obtained, forexample, by cyclizing condensation of 1 or 2 moles of fatty acid withpolyfunctional amines, for example aminoethyl ethanolamine (AEEA) ordiethylenetriamine. The corresponding carboxyalkylation products aremixtures of different open-chain betaines. Typical examples arecondensation products of the above-mentioned fatty acids with AEEA,preferably imidazolines based on lauric acid or C_(12/14) cocofattyacid, which are subsequently betainized with sodium chloroacetate.

Amine Oxides

Finally, the cleaners according to the invention may contain amineoxides in admixture with, or instead of, the betaines as component (b).Amine oxides are produced from tertiary fatty amines, which normallycontain either one long and two short or two long and one short alkylchain, by oxidation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The amineoxides suitable for use in accordance with the present inventioncorrespond to formula (V):

in which R⁹ is a linear or branched alkyl group containing 12 to 18carbon atoms and R¹⁰ and R¹¹ independently of one another have the samemeaning as R⁹ or represent an optionally hydroxy-substituted alkyl groupcontaining 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Amine oxides corresponding to formula(V), in which R⁹ and R¹⁰ represent C_(12/14) or C_(12/18) cocoalkylgroups and R¹¹ is a methyl group or a hydroxyethyl group, are preferablyused. Amine oxides corresponding to formula (V), in which R⁹ is aC_(12/14) or C_(12/18) cocoalkyl group and R¹⁰ and R¹¹ represent amethyl or hydroxyethyl group, are also preferred.

Components a) and b) may be present in the multipurpose cleanersaccording to the invention in a ratio by weight of 10:90 to 90:10 andpreferably in a ratio by weight of 30:70 to 70:30. In one particularembodiment, the ratio by weight of a) to b) is in the range from 60:40to 90:10. The ratio of betaines to amine oxides in component b) is notso critical and, accordingly, may vary within wide limits.

Anionic surfactants may be additionally present as component c) in themultipurpose cleaners according to the invention. Typical examples ofanionic surfactants suitable as component c) are soaps, alkylbenzenesulfonates, alkane sulfonates, olefin sulfonates, alkyl ethersulfonates, glycerol ether sulfonates, α-methyl ester sulfonates,sulfofatty acids, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, glycerol ethersulfates, monoglyceride (ether) sulfates, hydroxy mixed ether sulfates,fatty acid amide (ether) sulfates, mono- and dialkyl sulfosuccinates,mono- and dialkyl sulfosuccinamates, sulfotriglycerides, amide soaps,ether carboxylic acids and salts thereof, fatty acid isethionates, fattyacid sarcosinates, fatty acid taurides, N-acyl amino acids such as, forexample, acyl lactylates, acyl tartrates, acyl glutamates and acylaspartates, alkyl oligoglucoside sulfates, protein fatty acidcondensates (more particularly vegetable wheat-based products), fattyacid polyglycol ester sulfates and alkyl (ether) phosphates. Where theanionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, they may have aconventional homolog distribution although they preferably have a narrowhomolog distribution. Preferred anionic surfactants are alkali metalsoaps, alkyl sulfates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfates,monoglyceride sulfates, fatty acid polyglycol ester sulfates and/orsulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfates and/or alkyl ether sulfates being mostparticularly preferred.

Fatty alcohol sulfates and fatty alcohol ether sulfates (component c)are known anionic surfactants which are industrially produced bysulfation of primary alcohols or addition products thereof with ethyleneoxide with SO₃ or chlorosulfonic acid and subsequent neutralization.Fatty alcohol (ether) sulfates corresponding to formula (VI):

RO—(CH₂CH₂O)_(a)SO₃Y  (VI)

in which R is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl group containing6 to 22 carbon atoms, a is a number of 1 to 10 and Y is an alkali metaland/or alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkyl ammonium, alkanolammoniumor glucammonium, are suitable for the purposes of the invention. Typicalexamples of fatty alcohol sulfates are the sulfates of caproic alcohol,caprylic alcohol, 2-ethyl hexyl alcohol, capric alcohol, lauryl alcohol,isotridecyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmitoleylalcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, elaidylalcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol,behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol and brassidyl alcohol and technicalmixtures thereof in the form of their sodium and/or magnesium salts.Typical examples of fatty alcohol ether sulfates are the sulfationproducts of the adducts of on average 1 to 10 and more particularly 2 to5 moles of ethylene oxide with the above-mentioned alcohols. It isparticularly preferred to use coconut fatty alcohol ether sulfate andfatty alcohol ether sulfates based on adducts of on average 2 to 3 molesof ethylene oxide with technical C_(12/14) or C_(12/18) coconut fattyalcohol fractions in the form of their sodium and/or magnesium salts.

Besides the alkoxylated carboxylic acid esters described under a), themultipurpose cleaners according to the invention may optionally containother nonionic surfactants as component d). Typical examples of othernonionic surfactants suitable as component d) are mixed ethers, hydroxymixed ethers, fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, alkyl phenol polyglycolethers, fatty acid amide polyglycol ethers, fatty amine polyglycolethers, alkoxylated triglycerides, alk(en)yl oligoglycosides, fattyacid-N-alkyl glucamides, protein hydrolyzates (more particularlywheat-based vegetable products), polyol fatty acid esters, sugar esters,sorbitan esters and polysorbates. Where the nonionic surfactants containpolyglycol ether chains, they may have a conventional homologdistribution although they preferably have a narrow homologdistribution. Preferred other nonionic surfactants are fatty alcoholpolyglycol ethers, alkyl oligoglucosides, fatty acid-N-alkyl glucamides,hydroxy mixed ethers and/or mixed ethers.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the other nonionicsurfactants (component d) used are alkyl and alkenyl oligoglycosidescorresponding to formula (VII):

 R¹²O—[G]_(q)  (VII)

in which R¹² is an alkyl and/or alkenyl group containing 4 to 22 carbonatoms, G is a sugar unit containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms and q is anumber of 1 to 10. They may be obtained by the relevant methods ofpreparative organic chemistry.

The alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides may be derived from aldoses orketoses containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose. Accordingly,the preferred alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides are alkyl and/oralkenyl oligoglucosides. The index q in general formula (VII) indicatesthe degree of oligomerization (DP), i.e. the distribution of mono- andoligoglycosides, and is a number of 1 to 10. Whereas q in a givencompound must always be an integer and, above all, may assume a value of1 to 6, the value q for a certain alkyl oligoglycoside is ananalytically determined calculated quantity which is generally a brokennumber. Alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides having an average degree ofoligomerization p of 1.1 to 3.0 are preferably used. Alkyl and/oralkenyl oligoglycosides having a degree of oligomerzation of less than1.7 and, more particularly, between 1.2 and 1.4 are preferred from theapplicational point of view. The alkyl or alkenyl group R¹² may bederived from primary alcohols containing 4 to 11 and preferably 8 to 10carbon atoms. Typical examples are butanol, caproic alcohol, caprylicalcohol, capric alcohol and undecyl alcohol and the technical mixturesthereof obtained, for example, in the hydrogenation of technical fattyacid methyl esters or in the hydrogenation of aldehydes from Roelen'soxosynthesis. Alkyl oligoglucosides having a chain length of C₈ to C₁₀(DP=1 to 3), which are obtained as first runnings in the separation oftechnical C₈₋₁₈ coconut fatty alcohol by distillation and which maycontain less than 6% by weight of C₁₂ alcohol as an impurity, and alsoalkyl oligoglucosides based on technical C_(9/11) oxoalcohols (DP=1 to3) are preferred. In addition, the alkyl or alkenyl group R¹² may alsobe derived from primary alcohols containing 12 to 22 and preferably 12to 14 carbon atoms. Typical examples are lauryl alcohol, myristylalcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmitoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearylalcohol, oleyl alcohol, elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, arachylalcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol, brassidylalcohol and technical mixtures thereof which may be obtained asdescribed above. Alkyl oligoglucosides based on hydrogenated C_(12/14)coconut fatty alcohol with a DP of 1 to 3 are preferred.

Another group of preferred other nonionic surfactants are fattyacid-N-alkyl polyhydroxyalkylamides which correspond to formula (VIII):

where R¹⁴CO is an aliphatic acyl group containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms,R¹³ is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and[Z] is a linear or branched polyhydroxyalkyl group containing 3 to 12carbon atoms and 3 to 10 hydroxyl groups. The fatty acid-N-alkylpolyhydroxyalkylamides are known compounds which may normally beobtained by reductive amination of a reducing sugar with an alkylamineor an alkanol-amine and subsequent acylation with a fatty acid, a fattyacid alkyl ester or a fatty acid chloride. Processes for theirproduction are described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,985,424, in U.S. Pat. No.2,016,962 and in U.S. Pat. No. 2,703,798 and in International patentapplication WO 92/06984. An overview of this subject by H. Kelkenbergcan be found in Tens. Surf. Det. 25, 8 (1988).

The fatty acid-N-alkyl polyhydroxyalkylamides are preferably derivedfrom reducing sugars containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, more particularlyfrom glucose. Accordingly, the preferred fatty acid-N-alkylpolyhydroxyalkylamides are fatty acid-N alkyl glucamides whichcorrespond to formula (IX):

Preferred fatty acid-N-alkyl polyhydroxyalkylamides are glucamidescorresponding to formula (IX) in which R¹⁵ is an alkyl group and R¹⁶COrepresents the acyl component of caproic acid, caprylic acid, capricacid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid,stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, petroselicacid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachic acid, gadoleic acid,behenic acid or erucic acid or technical mixtures thereof. Fattyacid-N-alkyl glucamides (IX) obtained by reductive amination of glucosewith methylamine and subsequent acylation with lauric acid or C_(12/14)cocofatty acid or a corresponding derivative are particularly preferred.In addition, the polyhydroxyalkylamides may also be derived from maltoseand palatinose.

Fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers are particularly preferred as the othernonionic surfactants. The fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers are productsof the addition of alkylene oxides containing 2 to 4 carbon atoms(ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide) onto fattyalcohols containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, the fattyalcohol polyglycol ethers are products of the addition; of firstethylene oxide and then optionally propylene oxide and/or butyl eneoxide onto fatty alcohols. Within this embodiment, particularly suitablefatty alcohol polyethylene glycol/polypropylene or polybutylene glycolethers are those corresponding to formula (X):

R¹⁷O(CH₂CH₂O)_(r)[MO]_(s)H  (X)

in which R¹⁷ is an alkyl and/or alkylene group containing 8 to 22 carbonatoms, MO is a propylene oxide, and/or a butylene oxide unit, r is anumber of 1 to 15 and s is 0 or a number of 1 to 10.

Fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol/polypropylene or polybutylene glycolethers corresponding to formula (X) may be produced, for example, inaccordance with European patent application EP-A2-161 537 or DE-A1 39 28602 and DE-A1 39 28 600.

Particularly suitable representatives are those of formula (X) in whichR¹⁷ is an aliphatic, saturated, linear or branched alkyl groupcontaining 8 to 18 carbon atoms, r is a number of 3 to 10 and s=0. Theseethers are products of the addition of 3 to 10 moles ethylene oxide ontofatty alcohols. Suitable fatty alcohols are alcohols based on fats andoils, such as caproic, caprylic, lauryl, myristyl and stearyl alcoholand the technical mixtures thereof obtained in the high-pressurehydrogenation of technical methyl esters based on fats and oils. Alsosuitable are monohydric branched alcohols, so-called oxo alcohols, whichgenerally carry 2 to 4 methyl groups as branches and are produced by theoxo process and so-called Guerbet alcohols which are branched in the2-position by an alkyl group. Suitable Guerbet alcohols are 2-ethylhexanol, 2-butyl octanol, 2-hexyl decanol and/or 2-octyl dodecanol.These oxo alcohols and Guerbet alcohols are also regarded as fattyalcohols in the context of the invention.

Other suitable compounds of formula (X) are those in which R¹⁷ is analiphatic, saturated, linear or branched alkyl group containing 8 to 18carbon atoms, r is a number of 2 to 7 and s is a number of 3 to 7. Thesecompounds are addition products of monohydric alcohols of the describedtype alkoxylated first with 2 to 7 moles ethylene oxide and then with 3to 7 moles propylene and/or butylene oxide.

In another preferred embodiment, the rinse agents contain fatty alcoholpolyglycol ethers which are products of the addition of first propyleneoxide and then optionally ethylene oxide. Accordingly, the ethers inquestion are fatty alcohol polypropylene glycol/polyethylene glycolethers which preferably correspond to formula (XI):

R¹⁸O[CH₂(CH₃)CHO]_(u)(CH₂CH₂O)_(w)H  (XI)

in which R¹⁸ is an alkyl and/or alkenyl group containing 8 to 22 carbonatoms, u is a number of 1 to 10 and w is a number of 0 to 15.

Compounds such as these are described, for example, in DE-A1 43 23 252.Particularly preferred representatives of the compounds corresponding toformula (XI) are those in which R¹⁸ is an aliphatic, saturated, linearor branched alkyl chain containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms, u is a numberof 1 to 5 and w is a number of 1 to 6. These compounds are preferablyproducts of the addition of 1 to 5 moles propylene oxide and 1 to 6moles ethylene oxide onto monohydric alcohols of the type alreadydescribed.

Particularly preferred other nonionic surfactants also include theso-called mixed ethers. The mixed ethers are products of the addition ofethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide onto fatty alcohols which areend-capped by subsequent reaction with an alkyl chloride in the presenceof bases. Particularly suitable mixed ethers are those which have beenproduced by end-capping with an alkyl halide containing 1 to 8 carbonatoms and more particularly with 1 to 4 carbon atoms of the fattyalcohol polyglycol ethers corresponding to formula (X) and/or (XI).Typical examples are mixed ethers based on a technical C_(12/18) orC_(12/14) cocoalcohol onto which 5 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide havebeen added and which have been end-capped with a methyl group or with abutyl group, for example Dehypon® LS-54, LS-104, LT-54, LS-104, LS-531,Henkel KGaA, Düsseldorf/FRG.

Other particularly preferred nonionic surfactants are so-called hydroxymixed ethers which have been produced by reaction of 1,2-epoxyalkaneswith mono-, di- and/or polyhydric alkoxylated alcohols. Preferredhydroxy mixed ethers correspond to formula (XII):

R¹⁹O[CH₂CH(CH₃)O]_(j)(CH₂CHR²⁰O)_(k)[CH₂CH(OH)R²¹]_(l)  (XII)

in which R¹⁹ is an alkyl and/or alkylene group containing 4 to 18 carbonatoms, R²⁰ is hydrogen or a methyl or ethyl group, R²¹ is an alkyl groupcontaining 2 to 22 carbon atoms, j is 0 or a number of 1 to 10, k is anumber of 1 to 30 and l is the number 1,2 or 3.

Hydroxy mixed ethers corresponding to formula (VII) are known from theliterature and are described, for example, in WO 96/12001. They areproduced by reaction of 1,2-epoxyalkanes (R²¹CHOCH₂) with mono-, di-and/or trihydric alkoxylated alcohols. According to the invention,hydroxy mixed ethers derived from alkoxylates of monohydric alcohols(l=1) with the formula R¹⁹—OH are preferred. Suitable examples ofalcohols have already been given in connection with the fatty alcoholpolyglycol ethers.

The alcohols are used in the form of their alkoxylates which areproduced in known manner by reaction of the alcohols with ethyleneoxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide. Alkoxylates of alcoholswhich have been alkoxylated with 10 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide(R²⁰=hydrogen, j=0, k=10 to 25) or with 1 to 3 moles of propylene oxideand then with 10 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide (R²⁰=hydrogen, j=1 to 3,k=10 to 25) are preferably used.

Most particularly suitable hydroxy mixed ethers corresponding to formula(XII) are those in which R¹⁹ is a saturated linear alkyl chaincontaining 8 to 14 carbon atoms, R²⁰ is hydrogen, R²¹ is a saturatedlinear alkyl chain containing 8 to 12 carbon atoms, j is 0 or a numberof 1 to 3, k is a number of 10 to 25 and l is the number 1. Hydroxymixed ethers such as these are described in detail in DE-A1 37 23 323.

If desired, the multipurpose cleaners according to the invention maycontain other amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants, for exampleaminopropionates, aminoglycinates and sulfobetaines, as an additionalcomponent e). Within this group, the aminoglycinates described in detailin EP-B-0 689 582, for example, are particularly preferred.

The multipurpose cleaners according to the invention preferably contain

alkoxylated carboxylic acid esters (component a) in quantities of 1 to80% by weight and preferably in quantities of 5 to 25% by weight;

betaines and/or amine oxides (component b) in quantities of 1 to 20% byweight and preferably in quantities of 3 to 10% by weight;

anionic surfactants (component c) in quantities of 0 to 70% by weightand preferably in quantities of 0 to 50% by weight;

other nonionic surfactants (component d) in quantities of 0 to 80% byweight and preferably in quantities of 10 to 75% by weight;

other amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants (component e) in quantitiesof 0 to 20% by weight and preferably in quantities of 0 to 10% byweight,

based on the surfactant mixture in the multipurpose cleaner, thepercentages by weight being calculated as active substance and with theproviso that they add up to 100% by weight.

The multipurpose cleaners according to the invention contain componentsa) and b), preferably in combination with d) and optionally in admixturewith c) and/or e), in quantities of 3 to 20% by weight and preferably inquantities of 5 to 15% by weight, expressed as active substance andbased on the multipurpose cleaner. The balance to 100% by weight is madeup by auxiliaries and water.

The multipurpose cleaners according to the invention may contain, forexample, solubilizers, such as ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyleneglycol, diethylene glycol or preferably butyl diglycol, foam regulators,for example soap, soluble builders, for example citric acid or sodiumcitrate, EDTA or NTA, and abrasives as auxiliaries. In many cases, anadditional bactericidal effect is required so that the multipurposecleaners may contain cationic surfactants or biocides, for exampleglucoprotamine. The multipurpose cleaners according to the invention maybe both alkaline (pH>7.5) and acidic (pH<6.5).

The present invention also relates to the use of mixtures of alkoxylatedcarboxylic acid esters and betaines and/or amine oxides as adermatologically safe surfactant mixture for the production ofmultipurpose cleaners.

EXAMPLES

Cleaning performance was tested by the method described in“Seifen-Öle-Fette-Wachse”, 112, 371 (1986) which gives highlyreproducible results. In this test, the cleaner to be tested is appliedto an artificially soiled plastic surface in the form of a 1% by weightaqueous solution (10 g/l). The artificial soil used for the dilutedcleaner was a mixture of soot, machine oil, triglyceride of saturatedfatty acids and low-boiling aliphatic hydrocarbon. The test surfacemeasuring 26×28 cm was uniformly coated with 2 g of the artificial soilusing a surface coater.

A plastic sponge was soaked with water, squeezed out and mechanicallywiped over the test surface to which 10 ml of the 1% cleaning solutionto be tested had been applied. After 10 wiping movements, the cleanedtest surface was held under running water and the loose soil wasremoved.

Five examiners visually evaluated the whiteness of the cleaned plasticsurface, cleaning performance being better, the lighter the plasticsurface appeared. The results are set out in Table 1. Examples 1 to 4correspond to the invention, C1 is a standardized Comparison Example. Ascore of “better than standard” was awarded where at least 4 out of 5examiners visually evaluated the plastic surface as lighter.

TABLE 1 Cleaning performance of the multipurpose cleaners on plasticsurfaces (figures = % by weight active substance) 1 2 3 Standard C₈₋₁₈fatty acid (EO)₁₀ methyl 4.5 1.0 1.0 — ester C₁₂₋₁₈ fatty alcohol (EO)₇— 3.5 2.5 4.5 C₈₋₁₀ fatty alcohol — — 1.0 — (PO)₁(EO)₂₂ end- capped withα-decene epoxide Cocoamidopropyl amine oxide 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 C_(8/10)alkyl polyglucoside 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 (DP 1.4) Solvent 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0Deionized water to 100 to 100 to 100 to 100 Cleaning performance BetterBetter Better Better than than than than standard standard standardstandard

What is claimed is:
 1. A multipurpose cleaner comprising (a) analkoxylated carboxylic acid ester corresponding to the formula (I):

wherein R¹CO is an aliphatic acyl group, AlkO is CH₂CH₂O, CHCH₃CH₂O,CH₂CHCH₃O, or a combination thereof, n is a number from 1 to 20 and R²is an aliphatic alkyl group, and (b) a betaine, an amine oxide or acombination thereof.
 2. The multipurpose cleaner of claim 1 wherein R¹COis an aliphatic acyl group having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, AlkO is aCH₂CH₂O group, n has an average value of from about 5 to about 15 and R²is a methyl group.
 3. The multipurpose cleaner of claim 1 wherein thebetaine is a compound of the formula (II):

wherein R³ is an alkyl group or an alkenyl group having from about 6 toabout 22 carbon atoms or a combination thereof; R⁴ is hydrogen or analkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R⁵ is an alkyl group havingfrom 1 to 4 carbon atoms; m is a number from 1 to 6 and X is an alkalimetal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion or ammonium ion.
 4. Themultipurpose cleaner of claim 1 wherein the betaine is a compound of theformula (III):

wherein R⁶CO is an aliphatic acyl group having from 6 to 22 carbon atomsand 0 or 1 to 3 double bonds, o is a number from 1 to 3 and each of R⁴,R⁵, m and X is as defined above for formula (II).
 5. The multipurposecleaner of claim 1 wherein the amine oxide is, a compound of the formula(V):

wherein R⁹ is a linear or branched alkyl group having from 12 to 18carbon atoms; each of R¹⁰ and R¹¹ is independently the same as R⁹ orrepresent an optionally hydroxy-substituted alkyl group having from 1 to4 carbon atoms.
 6. The multipurpose cleaner of claim 1 wherein theweight ratio of components a) and b) is from about 30:70 to about 70:30.7. The multipurpose cleaner of claim 1 further comprising an anionicsurfactant.
 8. The multipurpose cleaner of claim 7 wherein the anionicsurfactant is an alkyl sulfate, an alkyl ether sulfate or a combinationthereof.
 9. The multipurpose cleaner of claim 1 further comprising anadditional nonionic surfactant.
 10. The multipurpose cleaner of claim 9wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting ofa fatty alcohol polyglycol ether, an alkyl oligoglucoside, a fattyacid-N-alkyl glucamide, a hydroxy mixed ether, a mixed ether and acombination thereof.
 11. The multipurpose cleaner of claim 1 furthercomprising an amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant.
 12. Themultipurpose cleaner of claim 11 wherein the amphoteric or zwitterionicsurfactant is an aminoglycinate.
 13. A multipurpose cleaner comprisingfrom about 1 to about 80% by weight of an alkoxylated carboxylic acidester; from about 1 to about 20% by weight of a betaine or an amineoxide; from 0 to about 70% by weight of an anionic surfactant; from 0 toabout 80% by weight of additional nonionic surfactant; from 0 to about20% by weight of an additional amphoteric or zwitterionic all weightsbased on the total weight of the surfactant mixture.
 14. Themultipurpose cleaner of claim 13 wherein the amount of alkoxylatedcarboxylic acids ester is from about 5 to about 25% by weight; theamount of the betaine or amine oxides is from about 3 to 10% by weight;the amount of anionic surfactant is from 0 to 50% by weight; the amountof additional nonionic surfactant is from about 10 to about 75% byweight; the amount of additional amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactantis from about 0 to about 10% by weight.